The Great Outdoors in Metro Vancouver

Information on the facilities in Vancouver for outdoor activities: walks, hikes and cycling activities in the area...

Vancouver provides an endless supply of both summer and winter activities to be enjoyed outdoors. These include bird-watching, boating, cycling, golf, snow sports, swimming and walking.

Tourism Vancouver supplies information and brochures on activities and facilities in the city, accommodation, transport and parks.

• The Greater Vancouver Convention and Visitors Bureau
  At: Suite 210, 200 Burrard St., Vancouver, BC, V6C 3L6
  Tel: 604 682 2222
  Fax: 604 682 1717
• Visitor Centre
  At: Plaza Level, 200 Burrard St., Vancouver, BC, V6C 3L6
  Tel: 604 683 2000
  Fax: 604 682 6839

Vancouver Parks

The City of Vancouver maintains many parks, ranging from small urban green spaces to the 400-hectare (1,000-acre) Stanley Park. Opportunities for outdoor activities within city parks include walking, biking, canoeing, birding (bird-watching), golf, swimming, soccer, basketball, cricket, lawn bowling, tennis, lacrosse, roller blading, beach volleyball and skateboarding.

Each park offers different facilities for outdoor activities. The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation provides information on Vancouver parks and gardens.

• Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation
  Tel: 311 (within Vancouver) / 604 873 7000 (outside Vancouver)

Vancouver also includes one regional park, Pacific Spirit Park, which is administered by Metro Vancouver, the regional planning authority. The park is located near the University of British Columbia, along the western shore of the city and includes over 70 Km of walking/running trails, 50 Km of horse trails, and 50 Km of bike trails. It also features ocean beaches as well as forest walks.

• For more information on Pacific Spirit Park: Click here

Birding (bird-watching)

Birding is a popular activity in British Columbia and there are many opportunities to spot marine birds, waterfowl and song birds in the region's forests and wetlands.

Birding in British Columbia provides information on birding areas and bird species in the Vancouver area.

• For a list of birding and naturalist clubs in the Lower Mainland (including Vancouver): Click here

Boating (Sailing, Power-boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Rowing)

Boating of all kinds is popular in the Vancouver area.

Cycling

Cycling is popular year-round and the City of Vancouver has more than 300 Km of bicycle routes, including bike lanes in the downtown area. The City of Vancouver website has a section, Bike Vancouver, dedicated to cycling with information on:

• Routes
• Safety
• Bike parking
• Cycling events

Cyclists in the region should note the following:

• Helmets are required by law for all cyclists at all times
• High-traffic areas in parks may have divided paths, where bikes are allowed on one side and pedestrians on the other
• Cyclists have the same responsibilities as car drivers
• Bicycles are permitted on many transit services

Cycling organisations

• The Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition: Works to improve conditions for cycling as a form of transportation
• Cycling BC: Covers all cycling sports including road, track, BMX, cross-country, cyclo-cross, downhill, and paracycling
• Canada Trails provides a list of cycling clubs in British Columbia, including those in the Vancouver area: Click here

Golf

Golf is a four-season sport in Vancouver. The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation maintains three championship golf courses and three pitch and putt courses in the city. Their website has a section on Vancouver Parks Golf with information on:

• Courses
• Booking tee times
• Hours of operation
• Green fees
• Cart rentals
• Golf events

The British Columbia Golf Association governs amateur golf in British Columbia. Their website lists golf courses in British Columbia, including the Vancouver area (the Lower Mainland).

• For information and contact details: Click here (PDF)

Snow Sports (Skiing, Snowboarding, and Snowshoeing)

Skiing and snowboarding are two of the most popular sports in the Vancouver area, with many residents skiing or boarding through the winter and enthusiasts from all over the world visiting to take advantage of the winter sports.

Vancouver lies within an hour's drive of three mountains with many facilities for snow sports: Cypress Mountain, Mount Seymour, and Grouse Mountain. It is also the traveller's gateway to the Whistler/Blackcomb winter resort, approximately two hours' drive from Vancouver.

The Canadian Ski Council provides a list of snow sport facilities, including those in the Vancouver area.

• Canadian Ski Council website
• To search for snow sport locations: Click here

There are many ski and snow sport clubs in Vancouver, including the following:

• Inside Edge Club
• Pacific Ski Club
• Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club
• Mount Seymour Ski Club
• Cypress Ski Club

Swimming

Swimming outdoors is a favourite pastime for people of all ages. Most people swim outdoors in summer from late June until mid-September. However, some swimmers will swim outdoors in the ocean or in lakes through the winter.

Outdoor swimming pools are generally closed from September through May.

The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation provides information on Vancouver's four outdoor swimming pools.

• For further information: Click here

Beaches are under the authority of the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, which provides information on Vancouver beaches.

• For further information: Click here

The Vancouver Open Water Swim Association is a group of people who swim in open water such as the ocean and lakes.

• Vancouver Open Water Swim Association
  Postal Address: VMPO PO Box 5063, Vancouver, BC, V6B 4A9
  e-mail
  

Walking and Running

The City of Vancouver encourages walking in the city as an environmentally friendly means of transit. Streets in the region are designed and maintained for commuters, recreation and walking/running activities.

The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation provide well-maintained paths and trails in parks for walking and running. Their website has a section, Step Out Walks in Vancouver, which provides information on walks and walking in Vancouver.

The regional park, Pacific Spirit Park, includes over 70 Km of walking/running trails.

• For more information on Pacific Spirit Park: Click here

Safety

The following should be taken into account when walking in the region:

• Paths and trails may not be regularly patrolled
• Those using paths and trails, especially remote paths and trails and those in heavily forested areas, should take safety precautions (for example, always walk accompanied, be alert, carry a cell phone)
• Extreme weather such as wind and snow storms can create unexpected hazards on trails
• For more safety tips from the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation: Click here (PDF)